Josh Mostel


Joshua Mostel is an American actor with numerous film and Broadway credits. The son of Zero Mostel, he is best known for his supporting roles in films such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Harry and Tonto, Sophie's Choice, City Slickers, Billy Madison, and Big Daddy.

Early life

Mostel was born in New York City, the son of Kathryn Celia, née Harkin, an actress, dancer, and writer, and Zero Mostel, a comic actor.

Career

Mostel started his career as a boy soprano at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He graduated from Brandeis University. His Broadway debut was in 1971 with Unlikely Heroes. In 1973, Mostel had one of his more notable film performances as Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar. In 1979, Mostel briefly starred in Delta House, the television version of the film Animal House; he played Blotto Blutarsky, the brother of the character Bluto.
On Broadway, he appeared in the 1989 revival of The Threepenny Opera as Money Matthew and as the frazzled head writer in the original 1992 production of My Favorite Year.
He also played the part of "the best trader on the street", Ollie, one of Gordon Gekko's traders in Wall Street.

Personal life

Mostel lives in New York, with a summer home on Monhegan Island.
Tobias Mostel, his brother, is a painter, ceramic artist and professor of art, teaching at Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College.

Acting roles

Film

YearTitleRole
1971Going HomeMr. Bonelli
1972The King of Marvin GardensFrank
1973Jesus Christ SuperstarHerod Antipas
1974Harry and TontoNorman Coombes
1976The Money Wheel-of-fortune operator
1976Deadly HeroVictor
1981Dead RingerRussell
1982Fighting BackDuster
1982Sophie's ChoiceMorris Fink
1983Star 80Private Detective
1984The Brother from Another PlanetCasio Vendor
1984Windy CitySol
1985Almost YouDavid
1985Compromising PositionsDicky Dunck
1985StoogemaniaHoward F. Howard
1986The Money PitJack Schnittman
1987Radio DaysAbe
1987MatewanMayor Cabell Testerman
1987Wall StreetOllie
1989Animal BehaviorMel Gorsky
1991City SlickersBarry Shalowitz
1991Naked TangoBertoni the Jeweler
1991Little Man TatePhysics Professor
1991City of HopeMad Anthony
1992Nervous TicksSaul Warshow
1993Searching for Bobby FischerChess Club Regular
1994The ChaseOfficer Figus
1994Abe
1994City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's GoldBarry Shalowitz
1995The MaddeningChicky Ross
1995Billy MadisonPrincipal Max Anderson
1995The Basketball DiariesCounterman
1995Let It Be MeJordan
1998Great ExpectationsJerry Ragno
1998RoundersZagosh
1999The Out-of-TownersDr. Faber
1999Big DaddyArthur Brooks
2001Knockaround GuysMac McCreadle
2009State of PlayPete
2016The CongressmanBernie Gimpel
2024Bad ShabbosSaul

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987The EqualizerWinston ErdlowEpisode: "Beyond Control"
1990Beverly Hills, 90210Mr. RidleyEpisode: "Class of Beverly Hills"
1998Thicker Than BloodKendallTV movie
2003Law & OrderHarvey AnchinEpisode: "Kid Pro Quo"
2012Law & Order: Special Victims UnitMr. RothEpisode: "Hunting Ground"
2015Blue BloodsVictor Flores1 episode
2020HuntersRabbi Steckler3 episodes